NHS Treatment

Your treatment plan

Your dentist should give you a treatment plan to sign before carrying out any Band 2 or Band 3 treatments. This confirms the NHS treatments your dentist is going to do, and the amount you will need to pay on the NHS. If you have talked to your dentist about having private treatment, details and costs for this will be listed separately on the same form. If you are not given a treatment plan, please ask your dentist for one. To see what a treatment plan form looks like, go to www.dh.gov.uk/dental

Specialist treatment

If you are referred to another dentist as part of an existing course of treatment, you will still only pay one charge (to the dentist who refers you). However, your dentist may ask for you to be treated by another local dentist for a course of specialist treatment such as treatment under sedation, orthodontics or home visits.

This is a new course of treatment and means you will need to pay two set of charges - one to the dentist and one to the specialist (this does not apply if you have the right to free NHS treatment). If you choose to be referred to a private dentist or private consultant, then private charges will apply. Ask your PCT if you would like more information on NHS sedation, orthodontic and home visit services in your area.

Private treatment

Some treatments (e.g, tooth whitening) are not available on the NHS. You may choose to have these privately. After talking to your dentist, you may also choose to have private treatment instead of NHS treatment. Please ask your dentist to explain any risks, as well as costs, of private treatment.

To make a complaint about private dental services, contact the Dental Complaints Service on 08456120540, email ifo@dentalcomplaints.org.uk or visit www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk.